not very obedient

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not very obedient" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone or something that does not consistently follow rules or instructions. Example: "The dog is not very obedient, often ignoring commands during training sessions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Part of it is that I'm not very obedient and I'm not going to anguish over what I'm supposed_ _to," she said, her voice picking up.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Adults who consider themselves liberals were said decades earlier by their nursery-school teachers to be curious, verbal novelty seekers but not very neat or obedient.

The New York Times

So you will see, dear reader, having a wonderful time and following your own heart doesn't pay and you must therefore be very obedient to the men in your household".

The Guardian

I was a very obedient kid; I don't think I would've made a great startup entrepreneur when I was younger.

HuffPost

Although computers are not very smart (is your favorite number the character 'a'?), they are obedient!

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Very obedient.

The New York Times

"Yes, very obedient".

The Guardian

He is also very obedient and respectful.

Independent

Most Chinese photographers are very obedient to the Chinese Communist Party's word.

The New York Times

"This may sound boring," Perky Plumee said, "but Mason was a very obedient kid".

The New York Times - Sports

"Our schools and our universities produce people who are very obedient to the organisational objective," admits Mr Murayama.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not very obedient" to express a moderate degree of disobedience, implying that the subject is not completely unruly but does not consistently follow instructions.

Common error

Avoid using "not very obedient" when describing someone or something that is consistently and severely disobedient. In such cases, stronger terms like "rebellious" or "uncontrollable" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not very obedient" functions as an adjectival modifier, softening the impact of the adjective "obedient". As seen in Ludwig, it's used to describe a less-than-perfect adherence to rules or commands, suggesting a moderate level of non-compliance. The Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Wiki

26%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Science

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "not very obedient" is a grammatically sound and usable expression that indicates a moderate degree of disobedience. It's commonly employed in news, media, and wiki contexts to describe subjects that do not consistently follow instructions but are not entirely unruly either. According to Ludwig, this phrase is correct and useful in a written English and the examples show that the sources are various. For more precise communication, alternatives such as "somewhat disobedient" or "not particularly compliant" may be considered. Remember to use "not very obedient" when you want to downplay the extent of someone's or something's disobedience rather than exaggerating it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat disobedient

Indicates a slight lack of obedience; milder than the original phrase.

not particularly compliant

Emphasizes a lack of willingness to conform to expectations or requests.

a little rebellious

Suggests a tendency to resist authority or conventional norms.

mildly defiant

Highlights a subtle opposition to rules or commands.

not entirely cooperative

Focuses on a limited willingness to work with others or follow their lead.

somewhat unmanageable

Describes someone or something difficult to control or direct.

a bit unruly

Implies a lack of discipline and a tendency to be disruptive.

not easily led

Suggests an independent nature and a resistance to being influenced by others.

inclined to resist

Highlights a predisposition towards opposing or rejecting instructions.

occasionally non-compliant

Indicates that non-compliance is not constant but happens from time to time.

FAQs

What does "not very obedient" mean?

The phrase "not very obedient" suggests a mild degree of disobedience, implying that someone or something does not consistently follow rules or instructions.

What are some synonyms for "not very obedient"?

You can use alternatives like "somewhat disobedient", "not particularly compliant", or "a little rebellious" depending on the context.

How can I use "not very obedient" in a sentence?

You might say, "The dog is "not very obedient", often ignoring commands during training sessions." or "The student was "not very obedient", frequently talking out of turn in class."

Is it better to say "not very obedient" or "disobedient"?

"Not very obedient" implies a lesser degree of disobedience compared to simply saying "disobedient". Choose the phrase that accurately reflects the level of non-compliance you want to convey.